To affectionate parents there are few trials more severe than cepts. To her parents she was dutiful and obedient; indeed, her whole conduct as a young disciple was every way worthy of imitation. Her piety was of a lively character, she rejoiced in the possession of the grace of God.

the death of a beloved child. To see disease lay its rude hand upon the tender frame, to watch its progress, to observe its issue, are scenes of sorrow, which none but those who have passed through them can adequately understand.

Having tasted the word of Sarah Clegg, the subject of life herself, she felt a strong this notice, was born at Roch- solicitude that her parents, dale, on the 2nd of June, 1834. with her young companions, At the early age of six years should be saved, and earnestly she entered our Sabbath-school. did she pray that those who The Sabbath-school and the were so intimately related to house of God, were to her her on earth, might not be sources of high enjoyment. separated from her in eternity.

state of her mind, she replied, "Christ is precious." Her leader calling about the same time had some interesting conversation with her; on asking her how she was getting on for heaven, she cheerfully and smilingly replied, "I feel that I am getting ready; I am resting all my hopes on the death and sacrifice of Christ." On the evening of the 23rd June, her leader paid her another visit, on which occasion he found her a little better in body, and happy in God.

Her end was now near; her deliverance was at hand; death

came rather unexpectedly; she went to sleep as she lay on the sofa, after which she never spoke, and a little after three o'clock on the morning of the 24th of June, 1853, her soul passed away to heaven. She departed without a struggle or a groan at the early age of 19 years and 22 days.

Her death, with those of two other young friends who had gone before her, was improved by Mr. Reynolds to a large and deeply affected congregation. CHARLES TAYLOR.

Rochdale.

OUR CHILDREN'S PORTION.

A FRATERNAL LETTER FROM SUNDAY
SCHOLARS.

(Concluded from our last.)

THE Wesleyan Reform Society in this city numbers about 600 members, has 22 local preachers on the plan, and 10 preaching places, viz., the Concert Room, a large and beautiful building, capable of holding 2,000 persons; the large room, St. Saviourgate, which will hold 300 people; and eight other smaller places. In connection with this society we have two other Sabbath schools, one held in the Lecture Hall, Goodramgate, which was opened on the 20th day of October, 1850, with 170 scholars and 65 teachers, and now numbers 390 scholars and 67 teachers." Attached to this school there is a library containing upwards of 500 volumes, all of an interesting and instructive character. The other is held in a small room in Whitby Terrace, a street situated in a very populous neighbourhood, a short distance from the city, and near the Cemetery. This was opened on the 16th of May, 1852, with 46 scholars and five teachers, and now numbers 125 scholars and 17 teachers, making a total in both schools of 515 scholars and 84 teachers. A library has lately been formed at this school, containing now about 100 volumes, which number we hope, in a very short time, will be very much increased.

We have a great many kind friends in York, who support these institutions very liberally; and although a great rent has to be paid for one of the school-rooms, and a great amount spent in books and other articles, yet the committee have always

had enough and to spare. We are grateful to those friends, and hope their kindness will not be wasted upon us.

We have, in connection with our schools, two select classes, meeting on a week night evening, which many of us attend, we hope with benefit from the advice and counsel given us by those pious teachers who have the charge of them. One of our schools commences at half-past nine, and the other at ten o'clock on the Sunday mornings; and both commence at two in the afternoon. Of course the schools are opened with singing and prayer. The hymns we use are a selection from the Tract Society. After singing and prayer the regular school work is gone through, which, perhaps, would not be very interesting to describe fully; but it consists chiefly in lessons and singing, and addresses from the superintendent, or some other friend.

We need not tell you that we love our Sabbath-schools and our teachers very much; they are very kind, and exceedingly anxious for our temporal and spiritual welfare, and are ever ready to do us all the good they can. They very kindly subscribe amongst themselves, and purchase the "Band of Hope Review" for us, which we receive on the first Sunday of every month, and derive great pleasure from the reading of them; no doubt many of you see them, and are as much interested in them as we are. We also have prizes occasionally offered to us, for the best selection of Scripture texts on some given subject-such as drunkenness, slavery, war, disobedience to parents, Sabbath-breaking, &c.; and, though of course we have not all been able to obtain prizes on these occasions, yet we all have, we hope, derived that amount of good from searching the Scriptures which will well repay us for all our trouble. We may also tell you that, every year, we have a tea-treat given us, but this year our teachers engaged one of the York steamers, and we all had a pleasant ride a few miles down the river Ouse, which, as well as our tea afterwards, we enjoyed very much. Like most schools in York, we generally attend a place of worship on Sunday mornings. Those of us who belong to the Lecture Hall school attend the Concert Room; and those of us who are scholars in the Cemetery Road school (as it is called) go to a large preaching room in Walmgate; but we are happy to tell you that we are likely soon to have a nice large chapel of our own built, which, most likely, we shall all attend. A piece of ground is already bought for that purpose in Peckett Street, a new street near the river Ouse, and opposite the castle. A bazaar is shortly to be held, which we expect will be very large, and (we hope) a successful one; and subscriptions are being collected towards this object, which, we have no doubt, will be very liberal. A large school-room is to be built underneath, to be used instead of the one in Cemetery Road, which is far too small for the present number of scholars, and when a larger place is opened, we believe a great many more will be induced to attend. You will also be glad to know that many of us belong to the "Band of Hope," with which, also, several of our teachers are connected. We consider it to be a

very useful society; and we hope and pray that it may continue to prosper as it has hitherto done, and be the means of preventing a great many from experiencing the disgrace and misery of a drunkard's life, and the still greater and more awful misery of a drunkard's death.

We are sorry to hear at this time so much talk of war; and we wish that nations could be induced to settle all matters of dispute without resorting to so cruel and wicked a practice. We think they might and ought to do so; but as they do not at present seem disposed to do so, let us be doing all we can to hasten the time when they will;-let us be peacemakers, and endeavour to spread the blessings of peace throughout our families, our country, and the world. Christ said, "Blessed are the peacemakers;" let us endeavour to deserve that name, and be continually praying that the time may soon come when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither learn war any more.

We are also sorry to hear that the practice of buying and selling human beings like cattle is carried on in some parts the world as much as ever. Many of us often read and hear of what the poor slaves have to suffer at the hands of their cruel masters, and we cannot but regard slavery as entirely opposed to the word of God. What right has any man to sell our brothers and sisters? We are very thankful that each of us can sing:"I was not born a little slave,

To labour in the sun;

And wish I were but in my grave,

And all my labour done."

We are almost afraid you will begin to be tired of our long letter. We hope, however, that you will send us one larger still in return for it. Perhaps we shall never see each other on earth. We shall grow up, if we live, and become men and women, and we shall perhaps go through life by widely different roads; but it is delightful to think that we may so live that these different roads of life shall all meet at the end in Heaven. Let us attend to the lessons taught us by our teachers, and let us read our Bibles for ourselves as well. For David said, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Let us pray, in the words of a pretty little hymn which we sing:—

"Still may we love thy Word,

And feed thereon and grow;
Go on to learn thy holy will,
And practise all we know."

If we do this, we have no doubt but we shall meet in Heaven

"And meet to part no more."

We remain, dear brothers and sisters,

Yours very affectionately,

[Here follow the names of 303 scholars.]

LITTLE CHARLEY'S

TEMPTATION.

Ir was a pleasant afternoon in the spring, when Charley asked leave to play in the garden: he had his little waggon; and as the gardener was clearing the border, he filled it with dead stalks and leaves, and wheeled it off.

Soon his little friend Hamilton came in to help him; they worked together with great glee, loading the waggon and drawing it away. You could hear their merry laugh as they sometimes, in their hurry, upset the load, and then had it all to pick up again. Charley's

mother passed through the garden, on her way to see a sick neighbour; she was glad to see the boys so happy, and told them she liked to see them industrious.

"We need not go quite down to the shore, and she wont care if you just look at them, and see them pull in the fish; it's real fun; and we will be back before your mother comes."

when a fish was caught, they gradually drew nearer. One of the men was very good-natured, and let Charley and Hamilton draw in some of the fish. They flapped, and floundered, and spattered the water all around, and the stones were very wet where the boys stood. Charley's feet were wet and cold, and he began to feel very chilly, for the sun was going down, and the air from the lake was damp, and he was not dressed as his mother would have had him if she had known he was going near the lake, or to be out so late. Hamilton finding it was late ran off, saying his supper would be ready, and he must go. Poor Charley walked slowly home; he knew that he had disobeyed his mother, and he felt badly.

His mother was at the door After awhile Hamilton grew looking for him. She felt tired, and said, "Come, Charley, anxious, as he had never gone let us go down to the lake-away before without asking shore, and see the men fishing.' "leave. She spoke kindly to "Oh, no, Hamilton, my him, and asked him where he mother does not like me to go had been. He hesitated, but there." told her the truth; and when she had found he had been down to the lake, and that his clothes and feet were wet, she was afraid he had taken cold; so she took him to the fire and warmed him, putting on dry stockings and shoes. She told him that when it was proper for. him to go and see the men fish, his father would take him, and could see that he did not go where there were bad boys who said wicked words; and she asked him if he did not remember that even if he had come home before she did, God saw him and knew that he was disobedient.

Charley felt that it was not quite right, but he thought he would not govery near the shore, and that he would soon come back; so they scampered off.

They soon came in sight of the pier that is built off into the lake. There were several men and boys fishing; and for a little while the two boys stood at a distance and watched them; but as they heard their shouts